Familiar face is new principal in Lisbon

An 11-year teacher and program coordinator at Lisbon Central School will become the school’s new principal this summer.

By ALISON SHEA

The Bulletin

By ALISON SHEA

Posted May. 8, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 8, 2013 at 8:03 AM

By ALISON SHEA

Posted May 8, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 8, 2013 at 8:03 AM

Lisbon, Conn.

An 11-year teacher and program coordinator at Lisbon Central School will become the school’s new principal this summer.

Megan L. Jenkins, 34, of Willimantic, said Tuesday she is excited to lead the school that gave her her first teaching opportunities.

“This place has been my home,” Jenkins said. “It’s great to stay here. We have a great staff and students here.”

Jenkins started at Lisbon Central School in 2002, and taught first- and second-grades for six years. She became the school’s Scientifically Research-Based Intervention coordinator in 2008, helping struggling students catch up to their peers academically. This year, she also became the district’s testing coordinator, training teachers to administer assessments and analyzing test results.

Jenkins recently had a trial run as principal, filling in as acting principal for about two months during the winter while Principal Bob Austin was out after hip surgery. It was a “great stepping stone,” she said, one that helped prepare her for her new role.

Austin is retiring this summer after 25 years as a teacher and administrator in Lisbon and 38 years total in education. Jenkins was one of his students in his graduate school classes, and he said she always stood out; he recommended her for her current position, he said. Knowing that Jenkins will be in charge “makes me feel better leaving,” he said Tuesday.

“Megan has always been my right-hand person,” he said. “She’s done a good job (with her current position). And she did a good job while I was out, too.”

Jenkins said her biggest priorities as she starts out in the $95,000 per year position will be working with teachers and students to implement state-mandated initiatives. Those include a new teacher evaluation system, the new Common Core curriculum and new standardized testing.

The school began soliciting applications for the principal position in late February and received 10 applications — three from internal employees, according to Superintendent Sally Keating. A hiring committee composed of Keating, Special Education Director Lynn Slocum, Board of Education Chairman Randy Baah, second-grade teacher Stacey Guertin and sixth-grade teacher Brian Apperson narrowed the candidates’ pool to seven and then to three before selecting Jenkins.

“The committee was impressed by her in-depth knowledge of curriculum and testing, her work ethic and her dedication to children,” Keating said in an email Monday. “She strongly believes that all children can learn, and she is passionate about all children being successful in life.”

Parents were not asked to participate in the hiring process. But the school’s PTO president hopes Jenkins will have the same kind of relationship with the organization, and parents, that Austin has.

“Bob has been very supportive, and I hope Megan will be as well,” Pam Zelasky said. “I look forward to work with her.”